Women Driving

Question:

What’s the ruling about a woman driving alone and going shopping?

Zaynab El-Kateb:

There is no ruling in Islam to prohibit the woman from driving. The women companions did ride camels and horses. Sheikh Albani when he was asked about this he said, isn’t she allowed to ride a donkey? so why not drive a car? He said, in the car she would be even more covered or veiled than riding a donkey. In Saudi Arabia (only) the Ulamaa prohibits that a woman drives, because they say this can lead to wrong doings. If a young lady for example is allowed to go anywhere without supervision. Again, if there is no harm or wrongdoing, then I believe driving your own car is much safer than riding with a driver or a taxi.